Friday, March 29, 2013

Thy Will Be Done

"Thy will be done," in its full extent, must be the guideline for the
Christian life. It must regulate the day from morning to evening, the
course of the year and the entire life. Only then will it be the sole
concern of the Christian. All other concerns the Lord takes over. This
one alone, however, remains ours as long as we live ... And, sooner or
later, we begin to realize this. In the childhood of the
spiritual life, when we have just begun to allow ourselves to be
directed by God, we feel his guiding hand quite firmly and surely. But
it doesn't always stay that way. Whoever belongs to Christ must go the
whole way with him. He must mature to adulthood: He must one day or
other walk the way of the cross to Gethsemane and Golgotha.
St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)

This Good Friday I am especially mindful of these words that I keep on my desk. And not just because I managed to write a blog post for Word on Fire in which I managed to quote both this brilliant saint and Cee Lo Green. Bridget is on her way this morning to find out a more definitive diagnosis with the rheumatologist. I know she is in good hands. God's hands, the doctor's hands, and the hands of her medically astute (and just weeks away from that nursing degree!) sister who will be going with her. I'm working this morning. And feeling a bit of guilt. Call it working mother guilt - I didn't work when my children were young, so I guess I'm allowed to get a dose of it now. I'll be with her in prayer, but had a moment in which I wanted to turn around on my way to work. Thinking of Good Friday and how I want the Blessed Mother to be my model, I was seized by the thought that Mary would not have gone to her "day job" (allow me to lapse into hysterical hyperbole here, ok) while Jesus walked the way of the cross.

Many of us are torn. There are so many obligations that we must fulfill. And all I can do today is pray. Pray for all who walk the way of the cross, as we must. And remember, "Thy will be done."